Hobbit Movie News and Rumors | TheOneRing.net™ » Locations Setshttp://www.theonering.net/torwp
Forged by and for fans of J.R.R. TolkienSat, 01 Aug 2015 14:00:22 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Tourism New Zealand’s ‘The Book of New Zealand’ event in LAhttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/12/04/83881-tourism-new-zealands-the-book-of-new-zealand-event-in-la/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/12/04/83881-tourism-new-zealands-the-book-of-new-zealand-event-in-la/#commentsWed, 04 Dec 2013 20:35:08 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=83881Tourism New Zealand, 3 foot 7 productions, Warner Bros., and others bring you ‘The Book of New Zealand’ exhibit. This is an invitation only event being hosted out at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. It combines set locations, images of real world New Zealand, and a little movie magic to bring to life much of what makes New Zealand the perfect location for all things ‘Middle-earth’. Here are a few images from the event and a video of the opening greeting, please enjoy.

On Monday night, Tourism New Zealand hosted an opening ceremony for ‘The Book of New Zealand’ with a few special guests, including Dan Hennah and Ra Vincent, who helped set up the set locations used from “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug” featured throughout the exhibit. The set locations are mixed in with images of the real world New Zealand locations making for a very visually stunning event. The event opens with a video intro from Peter Jackson that becomes interactive as what is seen on screen becomes live. The below video shows that video and then the Ceremonial Greeting that came afterwards.

The Greeting was performed by New Zealand singer Hinewehi Mohi, a delightful presence at the event. ‘The Book of New Zealand’ takes you to the Pelorus River, the location of the Barrels sequence in the book. Across from that is one of the giant dwarven heads seen outside of Erebor, which was located at Hidden Bay in the Tongoriro region. Then you enter into an inner area and encounter the Laketown set, which was filmed in the Lake Pukaki area. And finally, you enter Beorn’s home, with locations in Paradise down near the Queenstown area. A few photos are below showing some of the sets and scenery, enjoy.

Barrels with Orc Arrows in them and the Pelorus river behind it.

Dwarven Head outside of Erebor

Laketown Bridge

Fishing boat at Laketown

Beorn’s Home set

Me in Beorn’s chair.

And here is the ‘Making of’ video to show you how this was all put together.

]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/12/04/83881-tourism-new-zealands-the-book-of-new-zealand-event-in-la/feed/0Designing Middle-earth: The Media Chronicles interviews Grant Majorhttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/21/82827-designing-middle-earth-the-media-chronicles-interviews-grant-major/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/21/82827-designing-middle-earth-the-media-chronicles-interviews-grant-major/#commentsThu, 21 Nov 2013 05:09:10 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=82827The Shire. Rivendell. Lothlórien. Helm’s Deep. Minas Tirith. If ever you found yourself admiring the design and scope of these remarkable sets and locations – among so many others from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – then you have been well aware of the amazing work of Grant Major. Serving as Production Designer on all three films, he was responsible for the look of everything you saw on-screen.

Major recently spoke with The Media Chronicles about how he got his start designing sets, the changes that have taken place with the evolution of CGI, and
the kind of work that has gone into his world creating – including that of Middle-earth.

The starting point was the books. Tolkien himself was a very descriptive writer, so among many other things, he wrote down the geography, mood, and feeling of a place in the story really well. So that was a great start. And the enormity of the design job meant that I wasn’t able to do every single item of it by myself. I brought on illustrators who were the driving force behind much of the conceptualizing of the film; Alan Lee and John Howe had created illustrations of Tolkien’s stories for years. Having this weight of history on board was very good for the project.

There was a time at the beginning of LOTR when I was building everything, nowadays there’s less of a need to build the entire set and so there are very few moments when everything is actually made. I am often designing for a green screen studio shoot where all the backgrounds are created digitally.

Click here to read the full interview, and check out the video below to see his work on the Coca-Cola television spot “Heist”, which won an Emmy in 2009 for “Outstanding Commercial”.

]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/21/82827-designing-middle-earth-the-media-chronicles-interviews-grant-major/feed/0Getting to know Magnus Hjerthttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/05/14/71613-getting-to-know-magnus-hjert/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/05/14/71613-getting-to-know-magnus-hjert/#commentsTue, 14 May 2013 05:36:24 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=71613Welcome to the latest “Getting to know” – questions that need answering. It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I occasionally post on the message boards here on TORn, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.

This month we’re asking questions of self-described Online guy at Weta Workshop and all round top bloke, Magnus Hjert.

Kelvarhin: Thanks for joining us this month Magnus, as always we’ll start with grammas favourite question…

What was your favourite cartoon when you were growing up?

Magnus: I grew up in Sweden on a rich and varied comics diet consisting of Tintin, Asterix, The Phantom, Spirou et Fantasio, its spin-off Marsupilami, Iznogoud… but my all-time favourite (that I still read) is Tintin.

Kelvarhin: What was your favourite toy as a kid?

Magnus: My Märklin train set… it initially provided much entertainment for my father and uncle, as I believe I was about three when I got it for Christmas. But it was awesome when I was older and could build model buildings etc.

Kelvarhin: Some of the TORNfolk (Tehanu, Garfeimao, deej and entmaiden) were in attendance to help Weta and the Neonatal Trust break the Guinness Record for most sandcastles built in an hour. They know that they built enough, but Guinness requires a lot of documentation and time to certify the results, and they’re wondering if you’ve gotten the official results from the world record Sandcastle Build last November?

Magnus: I don’t actually know the answer, but I promise I will find out from Martin Baynton, who is the main link between Adventure Wellington and Weta Workshop. I was on that beach myself, covering it on behalf of Weta. The event was organised by Adventure Wellington and Weta Workshop helped out with buckets and quite a few crew, including Richard, Tania and many others.

Kelvarhin: What is your favourite location in NZ?

Magnus: I’ve lived here now for 10 years and I have many favourites. But that’s a bit of a cop-out, so I will try to pick one. To narrow it down little by little, the region called the Wairarapa is about 90 minutes’ drive away from Wellington and is predominantly a rural area, but with a twist – it’s one of New Zealand’s premier wine regions. Small towns that 50 years ago were as rural as rural can be have blossomed with the increased interest the wine has brought to the region. On the way to my favourite place, you pass through several of these, Featherston, Greytown, Carterton. When you get to Masterton, you take a right and head for the coast. And after driving through orchards and sheep stations, you get to Castlepoint. A Pacific beach community with a spectacular lighthouse and rock formations, a fantastic beach and a camping ground. And very little else. The weather is often unforgiving, but lying in a tent, listening to the ocean… it doesn’t get much better. Oh – I just realised you probably meant shooting location? Well, other than Hobbiton which is truly AWESOME, a favourite is the Dimholt Road/Paths of the Dead at Putangirua Pinnacles in… you guessed it: The Wairarapa.

Kelvarhin: What are your most favourite places, of all the places you’ve been to in the world?

Magnus: Monterey, California. Montpellier, France. London, England (lived there for 7 years). Copenhagen, Denmark (being from Malmo in Sweden, Copenhagen is a natural place to hang out – back then it was a 45 minute boat trip away. Now there’s a bridge…). And Wellington – on a good day…

Kelvarhin: What movies or television shows are you into right now, apart from The Hobbit?

Magnus: Star Trek: Into Darkness was awesome – I went with a band of colleagues and everyone was pretty much in agreement it was a great film. With two kids of 6 and 10 years, I watch a LOT of ‘children’s’ flicks – like Wall-e, How to train your Dragon (and Riders of Berk) and love it, but Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, House MD, Doctor Who, Sherlock and even the occasional UK detective show/murder mystery re-run like Midsomer Murders, Morse, Miss Marple, Hercules Poirot… I’m easy to entertain…

Kelvarhin: I’m a child of migrants, and I know you’re originally from Sweden, so I was wondering what inspired your move to New Zealand?

Magnus: I was dragged here kicking and screaming by my Kiwi wife… nah, it was actually the other way around. I get itchy feet staying in one place for too long and when we were living in London (where we met and wed) and expected our first child, we decided there were healthier places to bring up children than south London, so we chose New Zealand. Thinking we’d only be here for 4-5 years and then perhaps go to Sweden (where all my family is). But then I got my job at Weta – as close to my dream job as I’m ever likely to get – and we’ve now decided not to up-root the kids, but stay here for at least as long as they want to stay. Then we’ll see.

Kelvarhin: What was the most difficult thing about organising Wetas surprise for TORn’s 10th Anniversary?

Magnus: Getting everyone to the same courtyard at the same time. Gino from Weta Digital down the road, Richard Taylor from somewhere in the building, Guillermo del Toro from 3 Foot 7 and then getting the crew to pick up some props and waving them around. We had many false starts on different occasions, but in the end we got it together. Woohoo! Man, that seems like a long time ago now… I was very nervous directing Guillermo del Toro, but he was very good about it.

Kelvarhin: How long have you been working for Weta Workshop and how did you come to be involved with them?

Magnus: I’ve been here since 2008 and I owe it to my sister-in-law who found the ad in the paper…

Kelvarhin: Working for Weta sounds great, but being a marketing manager sounds like hard work… is the line between being on the job and dreaming sharp or fuzzy? Is there even a line?

Magnus: That’s a great question… I’m gonna have to think about that one… Right – I’m back after having answered a few other questions in the meantime. The answer is – there is no line… my job is a constant intertwinement of fantasy, fans, fiction, collectors, artists, logistics, writing and just saying ‘awesome’ a lot. Weta is not a normal workplace – we who work there tend to forget.

Kelvarhin: Within your position at Weta, you must have been involved with some very surreal situations (perhaps meeting certain people, taken part in certain events and so on). What is your most memorable moment?

Magnus: There are many… in my first week, one of the Workshop technicians, Jordan, drove up and down the road outside on his rocket powered bicycle. A few months later I was recording a sound bite with Bill Farmer (Goofy since 1986) on a podcast and suddenly Michael Winslow (officer Larvell Jones in Police Academy) chips in with a Mickey Mouse impersonation… And meeting Sir Ian McKellen – again for a podcast interview… it’s all a bit surreal in hindsight, but while you’re doing it… it’s fantastic.

Kelvarhin: What item do you like the most of all the items made by Weta? And why?

Magnus: Ooooooh – that’s a tough one. The Minas Tirith shooting miniature – I have never seen it in real life, but the impact it had on me in LOTR when I first saw it on screen… man! Barad-dûr and Orthanc likewise – I’ve seen both of them outside David Tremont’s workshop while he was working away on the collectible models. Of the things you can take home… Peter Lyon’s swords… probably Andúril… words cannot describe how epic they are and how powerful you feel with one in your hand.

Kelvarhin: I have heard workers from Weta get a chance to buy the things they make (the collectibles). Have you ever not bought an item and later regretted that you didn’t get it? If yes, what was it, and why do you regret not getting it?

Magnus: Yes – I admit to being a complete sucker for Greg Broadmore’s rayguns… and my favourite is the Goliathon 83, which is now sold out. While it was still in stock, I couldn’t afford it. But if I ever get a chance to buy one…

Kelvarhin: What is it like seeing all these cool Collectibles before the fans get to see them? Also, how hard is it to hold that from the world?

Magnus: A) Orgasmic. B) Extremely.

Kelvarhin: If you were making a car commercial, what Weta Workshop items would you include?

Magnus: Rayguns – ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’. It’s a mantra in Ingolstadt as well as at Grordbort Industries. Although it would be in English undoubtedly. ‘Advantage through Technology’.

Kelvarhin: And lastly, if you were a dwarf in Thorin’s Company, which one would you be?

Magnus: Easy – Bombur. A little known fact is that I have “arse-modelled” for our Bombur collectible, showing the sculptors what it looks like when a fat guy runs… up and down the Weta Workshop car park. And Leaflock from The Shadow and Flame’s Weta collectors’ forum actually turned me into Bombur in the S&F Christmas card for Weta. So I feel a strong affinity with the guy. I have included the image Leaflock made.

If you would like to ask any questions yourself, just head over to our Message Boards, the sign up process is pretty painless. A lead post for questions is made at the beginning of each month on the Main board. Or you can just check Main for each months interviewee and email me your questions at kelvarhin@theonering.net.

NEW ZEALAND — During the world premiere of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” New Zealand wisely took the opportunity to show journalists from around the world (and Australia) a lot of the amazing things its island nation has to offer. TheOneRing.net was part of one of the tours and rather than regurgitate all the footage, photos and writing we gathered at once, exactly when all the other journalism outlets of the world did, we thought it would be great to disperse it and share it over the course of 2013 in the lead up to “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”

After all, Tourism New Zealand’s motto is “New Zealand is Middle-earth” and this is true in so many ways and for much longer than just the weeks after the debut of the film. For example, above is the video made for TORn by fellow filmmaker Dan McBride who shot and edited the video tour you probably have already watched. We, and a gaggle of other media, toured the Hobbiton Movie Set and witnessed Prime Minister John Key open the new Green Dragon building accompanied by a bunch of actors who reminded us a whole lot of a company of Dwarves. (Incidentally, we had just talked to him the day before so when he showed up again, we wondered why we were being followed and what we had done wrong.)

The video speaks for itself but this remarkable property is, as far as I know, unique in all the world for its ability to transport visitors inside a book, or a movie for that matter. Being there doesn’t feel like walking on a set, rather it feels like immersion. It looks, smells, sounds and feels like one imagines Hobbiton would if you could take a magic wardrobe to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. The Hobbit holes scattered about are, more or less, as they were for filming of “The Hobbit,” movies. It seems safe to assume we will see more of The Shire in subsequent movies and in the Extended Edition on home video before the end of the year.

At the Green Dragon

Meanwhile, not far from Auckland, sits this unique and amazing tourism experience. The still functioning sheep and cattle farm where the now-permanent movie set is placed, is owned by the Alexander family, as it was when discovered for “The Lord of the Rings,” films. Their television rugby match interrupted by strangers led to parts of the family farm being among the most beloved locations in fantasy film and literature. Now visitors take tours daily, either by booking directly through the farm or through travel agents, tours or cruise ships. There are several options available, including overnight farm stays, private tours and lunch options. Matamata, as authentic a small New Zealand town as you will find, serves as a gateway to the farm, offering transportation daily and had just opened a visitor’s center when we visited.

Hamilton is also near with more accommodations and an airport. Not far from Auckland, 160 kilometers in fact, visitors can easily manage the two hour car ride. It goes without saying that driving through the countryside is spectacular as well. My dream would be to meet with TheOneRing.net staff and friends in The Green Dragon, which can be reserved for private functions. They serve food and drink and I just bet you can guess what size the ale comes in. Weddings have and will happen here. The atmosphere and the finish on the place are just as good as you hope they are. In truth, for movies fans and Tolkien fans, the entire movie set experience is simply magic.

Waitomo Caves Black Water Rafting

Some tourists will hop off the cruise ship or land in Auckland and make the farm their only stop in the region and in my opinion if you made it all the way to New Zealand and don’t see more of the region you are doing it all wrong. The tour also provided us the opportunity to visit the world famous Waitomo caves. They contain the exceptionally cool glow worms and there are different ways to experience it all, including the black water rafting experience that I couldn’t resist. Hamilton serves as a good gateway to both spots and neither is to be missed. In the gallery below I will drop in a few Waitomo photos but it is an entirely different story to be told and if there is any need to explain the importance of caves to Middle-earth, you might be at the wrong website.

The region is full of food and drink, excellent accommodations and plenty more worth-while excursions. We will tackle them all in a future story. But add the farm visit and Waitomo Caves to your bucket lists. They really are wold-class destinations not to be missed but especially not by Tolkienites.

While you are here, please enjoy other videos from the premiere. First, actors talking about rings:

And Red Carpet highlights.

]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/04/24/71053-want-to-visit-middle-earth-try-the-hobbiton-movie-set/feed/0Hobbits Deal with Government Compliancehttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/24/59708-hobbits-deal-with-government-compliance/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/24/59708-hobbits-deal-with-government-compliance/#commentsTue, 24 Jul 2012 13:42:43 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=59708Thanks to Ringer David H from Auckland NZ, we have this link to a wonderfully revealing and in-depth PDF from The Department of Welfare and Housing Te Tari Kaupapa Whare. The document is titled: Compliance of barriers to a bridge located on a former film set at 501 Buckland Road, Matamata. You see, the bridge made famous in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was considered to be not complying with Clause F4 Safety from falling of the Building Code, and and as a result seemed to ultimately be required to make some adjustments to allow public use. However, after a lot of discussion, notes and analysis, you’ll see that Manager Determinations John Gardiner has reversed a previous decision and decided the bridge, in its current form, qualifies for code compliance! Hobbits of Hobbiton rejoice! The bridge will remain open! [PDF]
]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/24/59708-hobbits-deal-with-government-compliance/feed/2LEGO® Exclusive Reveal: An Unexpected Gatheringhttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/12/58853-an-unexpected-gathering-lego-set/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/12/58853-an-unexpected-gathering-lego-set/#commentsThu, 12 Jul 2012 20:58:25 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=58853As we reported earlier, today is The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit day at Comic-Con 2012 (aka #HobbitCon) and LEGO® was kind enough to send us this exclusive image of a brand new ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘ Playset! The set is called ‘An Unexpected Gathering’ and features Bag End with six mini-figures. As you can see in the image above, we have Bofur holding an axe, Bombur with a sausage and knife, Dwalin wielding a really large weapon and knife, Balin with chalice, Gandalf the Grey with walking staff, and Bilbo Baggins. As you can see the set is highly detailed with greenery, vegetables and much more. From the looks of the image we’ll have a nice inside component to play with as well. Stay tuned as we report more from Comic-Con 2012! [Live Coverage]
]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/12/58853-an-unexpected-gathering-lego-set/feed/4How to Tour the REAL Middle-earth? TORn TUESDAY Interviews Red Carpet Tours!http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/10/58643-how-to-tour-the-real-middle-earth-torn-tuesday-interviews-red-carpet-tours/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/10/58643-how-to-tour-the-real-middle-earth-torn-tuesday-interviews-red-carpet-tours/#commentsTue, 10 Jul 2012 23:43:18 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=58643How do you put together a grand tour of The Shire? Where do you take Ringer fans who want to see the REAL Middle-earth? Be sure to catch our innovative *LIVE WEBCAST* TORn TUESDAY — In a few minutes our delightful friends from the LOTR filming locations tour company “Red Carpet Tours” will be on via Skype from New Zealand! You can be part of the show and bring your questions to Vic & Julie James, who are busy preparing our wonderful HOBBIT MOVIE PREMIERE TOUR in late November 2012, alongside the premiere events in Wellington! You should join us in NZ too! Come join host Clifford Broadway *live* via Stickam (account “theoneringnet”) using your own Skype login or come join us via our Live Event Page with our unique Barliman’s chat embedded in the show! Tune into our webcast at 5:00pm PDT (that’s Los Angeles time folks), and just click to our Live Event page.
]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/10/58643-how-to-tour-the-real-middle-earth-torn-tuesday-interviews-red-carpet-tours/feed/0Product Review: ‘Mines of Moria’ LEGO® Sethttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/06/10/56831-product-review-mines-of-moria-lego-set-2/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/06/10/56831-product-review-mines-of-moria-lego-set-2/#commentsMon, 11 Jun 2012 00:56:15 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=56831

‘…There are Orcs, very many of them,’ he (Gandalf) said. `And some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor. For the moment they are hanging back, but there is something else there. A great cave-troll, I think, or more than one. There is no hope of escape that way…’

I think back on my relatively young life and can fondly recall a few events that I would consider highlights: My marriage to my beautiful wife; the birth of our daughter; TheOneRing.net Oscar Parties from 2002-2004; Finding my dream job with Sideshow; and that time I got to see 26 minutes of The Fellowship of the Ring at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001. As you can read in my original report, I was blown away by the revelation of Peter Jackson’s vision of The Lord of the Rings on the big screen, especially when it came to the infamous Mines of Moria. Sure it was different from the books, but visual execution seemed to transmit my own visions of Middle-earth and put them on the big screen. So many years later, it is now my privilege to relive some of that sequence through the ‘Mines of Moria’ LEGO® Set, now available at most retailers.

As a preface to my review, I need to remind you all that I am not a LEGO® Set expert. My first experience with LEGO® Sets in many years was building the ‘Shelob Attacks‘ set I reviewed last month. So if I get some terminology wrong, please don’t hold it against me :P.

There are a few obvious differences between the ‘Shelob Attacks’ LEGO® Set and ‘The Mines of Moria.’ First, and most obvious, is that the set is much larger and more complex. Whether it is the ‘action’ elements in the gate and right side piece, or it is adding the detailing stickers just in the right place, you will find this set takes anywhere from 3-4 hours to piece together. Let me say…that is not a bad thing! I’m quickly finding myself addicted to the enjoyment and plain old fun of LEGO® Sets again! (After the break I’ve got 84 pictures of the set!)

Packaging: 5/5

As with the previous set, the ‘Mines of Moria’ LEGO® Set has the official LOTR logo, a background of the Middle-earth map, and the ominous Sauron finger with The One Ring. The front of the box showcases the various action elements and facial choices included with the set. I particularly like the Pippin ‘terror’ face as he knocks over the skeleton into the well, and the Cave Troll about to smash Gimli and Balin’s tomb. Legolas looks like he is about to pounce off the right wall element onto the Cave Troll’s head, and Boromir is defending against a Moria Orc. The back of the box features even more possibilities and a reminder about the upcoming LOTR LEGO® Video Game.

Inside the box are five packages of LEGO® bricks, marked to help you sort them, and not one, but two very in-depth instruction booklets. As you will see in the gallery below, I took some pictures of parts of these books that gave me a true giggle. First the big red x through the concept of unpacking your LEGO® pieces in the grass. I would imagine that is explicit, but hey, you never know. The second graphic is a sad face with a squinty-eye being hit by a black ball. I honestly didn’t ‘get’ what the graphic meant at first. After all, there were no small black balls in the set. But now I’m on board with the universal symbol that one of the action elements could project a LEGO® piece at your face and possibly damage your eye. Short of actually fast-balling the piece at someone’s face, I’m not sure that is a real worry, but I guess this is one of those cases where the lawyers got their way! ha!

But back to the instructions, they were very informative, clear and precise. If I had one complaint, it was I was not always sure which sticker went where on the set. Some are numbered, but not all of them are, and in some cases the drawings were not as clear as I had hoped. You’ll probably see some of the mistakes in my pictures below.

For as complex and time consuming as the process can be following these instructions, I have to give the packaging and internal materials a very high grade. This amateur LEGO® fan was able to do it on the first try!

There are a lot of mini-figures in this set, and all have a bit of unique charm. The Skeletons that are included with the set are quite entertaining, considering they are simply skeletons! Their arms dangle freely and they have posable legs.

Pippin has a detailed body with a blue cloak and scarf. Like the hobbits in the ‘Shelob’ set, he has a cloak that can be found in the small square white box among the other pieces. (I only mention this because I took forever last time to make that discovery!) He has two facial expressions to choose from…I guess we could call one his ‘nervous’ face and the other his ‘terror’ face. Both are fun and express the character very well. He has a small sword as an accessory. The only oddity with Pippin is the fact that his legs don’t pose – not sure why that would be the case. We know he can run through Farmer Maggot’s fields pretty quickly!

Boromir does have posable legs with a detailed torso mimicking his costume in the films. Don’t forget to put on his cloak like I did! He comes with his sword and shield and also features two facial expressions: ‘Snear’ and ‘Intense Concentration.’ (Sorta like Blue Steel :P) Of course he has orange/red hair and his face is detailed with a matching go-tee.

Gimli is shorter than the other figures and has a very detailed helmet. His beard, a separate element, hides his facial expressions, but you can get the general gist of his mood by the stern eyes. For some reason, Gimli is cursed with having non-posable legs. Again, I’m not sure why this would be, cause we all know he jumps around and fights with the best of them. His accessory axes are really well crafted, but ultimately they seem unwieldy and hard to pose. Since he doesn’t have the posable legs, it makes that a bit more challenging. But besides those minor setbacks, Gimli does have the Book of Mazarbul – a great little piece of detail that makes this set all the cooler.

The Moric Orc figures feature the armor as we see in the film and also the crazy faces, jet black hair and pointy ears that make them so distinctive from others of their race. The accessories that accompany them are notched and damaged to further maintain film accuracy. The head itself has the same expression on either side, so you won’t necessarily need to make a choice – you know, Orcs in general are always ‘angry’ face after all. The hair and ears are a single piece that fits on the head. While wrist articulation is available on all of these figures, it drew my attention on the Moria Orcs. Maybe it was the color difference between the body and the hands, but ultimately it makes for even more rewarding posing options.

Legolas is represented in his green cloak and has two faces: ‘intense’ and ‘pissed.’ (Obviously I’m assigning my own names at this point! Ha) He comes with a bow/arrow accessory that fits a bit awkwardly in his hand…I’m guessing that is just one of those things that can’t be technically executed in LEGO® form. Legolas’s hair and ears are also the same piece, like the Orcs, but as a result he can only truly ‘face’ forward. His hair prevents moving his head from side to side – again, just a technical limitation. I should note that Legola’s legs are posable, allowing him to jump on top of that nasty Cave Troll.

The only reason these figures don’t get a 5/5 is due to the non-posable legs on some and the unwieldy accessories for others. Expert LEGO® collectors probably will not have the same issues I had with posing. Otherwise these figures are stand-alone awesomeness. I have them on my shelf above my computer!

Cave Troll: 5/5

The highlight of this set is the imposing Cave Troll. Ever since Boromir muttered, ‘They’ve got a Cave Troll!’ in the films, this monstrous beast became a fan favorite and a much anticipated sequence in The Fellowship of the Ring. The figure itself lives up to this excitement in LEGO® form. He appropriately stands taller than the other minifigures. His back, arms and scalp are detailed, with his face in permanent ‘angry’ mode. While his legs don’t move, he does feature articulated shoulders and wrists. He has space on his head to attach the chain accessory and wields a gigantic club. If you check out the ‘making of’ video at LEGO.com, with designer Hans Henrik Sidenius, you can see an early prototype version of the Cave Troll in grey. The final piece here is a blue/grey.

The Well: 5/5

‘Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!’ We all remember Gandalf’s rebuke of Pippin so very well. So it is no surprise to see that very well piece in The Mines of Moria, complete with bucket, chain and Skeleton. Of course, the well has a function to allow you to set up them all up nicely only to have them tumble noisily into the abyss. There are some detail stickers applied here as well as a yellowish crystal to accent the piece.

Main Gate: 5/5

When you think of the Balin’s Tomb scene in The Fellowship of the Ring, you most likely visualize the Fellowship facing the gate as it is barred and secured by Boromir and Aragorn. This LEGO® Set does a great job capturing that moment with highly detailed doors, as well as the ability to bar the gate closed with an additional axe accessory. Once built, the gate has some great stickers that further detail the gate with stones, cobwebs and of course, dwarven writing. What I found most interesting in building this set was how even the smallest pieces can provide that added level of detail/diversity to make the scene come alive. Whether it is the single beige accent on the floor or the LEGO® bricks that have literal brick ridges, every effort was taken to make the set piece feel authentic. The gate also features a break away portion to provide some dynamic play when the Cave Troll busts through the doors.

Balin’s Tomb: 5/5

The center of this environment is, of course, Balin’s Tomb. As one would expect, the tomb comes with the skeleton of Balin and a neat little action function to mimic being smashed by a Cave Troll. The top of the tomb has runes and inscriptions to add extra detail. As I mentioned above, you also get the Book of Mazarbul to further authenticate the scene.

Right Side/Dwarf Library: 5/5

The largest element in this environment is the right wall of the Tomb. This is of course where Legolas jumps on the back of the Cave Troll and a few hobbits scurry for their lives. The construction of the wall takes full advantage of the stickers as well as some extra accessory pieces like a barrel, pick-axe, bottle, book, spear, skull, torch, etc. There are quite a few action elements on this wall, including a very cool hide-away treasure chest, complete with jewels and valuables. Additionally, two large columns collapse when triggered by the switches on the back. The construction of this wall is done in three pieces, and they easily come together to form the largest portion of this set.

Overall: 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed building this set. I think I have the LEGO® Set bug now…which is an expensive but rewarding habit to acquire! Ultimately, ‘The Mines of Moria’ delivers the goods when it comes to reliving the sequence from The Fellowship of the Ring. Whether it is imagining the action of a Cave Troll bashing through the gate, or Legolas leaping on top of the beast to finish him off, this set really does allow you to fully realize each moment from one of Fellowship’s most memorable sequences. I think it goes without saying that I highly recommend it to friends and family.

If you enjoyed this review, please do consider purchasing through the links above (That way LEGO will know you heard about them from us! ). Please also share your own thoughts and opinions on this set in the comments and on Facebook.

Calisuri is a co-founder and owner of TheOneRing.net. His views are not necessarily those of TheOneRing.net – odd, right? Considering he’s an owner? But no…that’s not always the case. He is a mid-range Tolkien fan with a knowledge of fandom that is just dangerous enough to get himself in trouble.

…the most loathly shape that he had ever beheld…Most like a spider she was, but huger than the great hunting beasts…Great horns she had, and behind her short stalk-like neck was her huge swollen body, a vast bloated bag, swaying and sagging between her legs; its great bulk was black, blotched with livid marks, but the belly underneath was pale and luminous and gave forth a stench. Her legs were bent, with great knobbed joints high above her back, and hairs that stuck out like steel spines, and at each leg’s end there was a claw…

Shelob.

For every Tolkien fan, the name leaps from the pages (and screen) of Middle-earth to invade a commonly held fear in our everyday life – the fear of an impossibly large, eight-legged, creepy-crawly finding us in the dark. *shiver* According to Wikipedia, it is estimated that 55% of women and 18% of men are Arachnophobic. You can count me among those with a mild fear of spiders, which basically means I have to ‘act’ the role of father/husband when it comes disposing of them. I can’t very well unleash a high-pitched scream and run away now can I…

So when I first saw the ‘Shelob Attacks’ LEGO® Set at the 2012 Toy Fare, I have to admit…I was a bit creeped out. Yes, its LEGO® blocks, but the piece is still surprisingly life-like. In fact, one of the reporters getting the sneak peek at this set could not go within 5 feet of the display. Yes, he was that Arachnophobic!

Before we get to the meat of this review, I will warn you ahead of time, that I am in no way a LEGO® Set expert. To be honest, I haven’t touched the popular construction toys for possibly 10 years, so I’m a bit behind the times when it comes to the licensed themed sets. However, I can tell you, within 1 minute of opening the box, the wonderful memories of LEGO® set building came swooping back.

Packaging: 5/5

All of The Lord of the Rings LEGO® Sets follow a similar theme for their packaging, including the official logo, a background of the Middle-earth map, and the ominous Sauron finger with The One Ring. The front of the box features a very well composed image of the set, depicting the sequence from The Return of the King where Frodo is captured by Shelob and Sam rushes in to save the day. We of course also have Gollum lurking in the shadows of a LEGO® cave wall. The back of the box focuses on the diversity of the objects inside, including possible poses, accessories and action sequences. My particular favorite is Gollum leaping on top of Frodo, but the ‘hanging Shelob’ above Frodo shot is also quite intriguing. The back of the box also features a small plug for the upcoming LOTR LEGO® Video Game. (A game that many of us are highly anticipating!)

Inside the box are the packages of LEGO® bricks and a very in-depth instruction booklet. I was expecting the bags of LEGO® bricks to be organized into groups…you know, Hobbit pieces, Shelob pieces, etc…but from what I could tell they were not. The instruction booklet clearly outlined the process of building this set and was a godsend for a LEGO® newbie like myself. I can’t even imagine attempting to put this together without the booklet – in fact, I’m pretty sure its quite impossible.

Mini-figures (Frodo, Sam, Gollum): 4/5

The mini-figures are obviously a lot of fun. The head of Frodo and Sam both feature the ‘concerned’ and ‘angry’ face on opposites sides, so you can adjust the mood for your scene. Each has a cloth-like coat (they come in one of the little white boxes – I was looking forever for them) and each has a full detailed body torso. For Sam, you have his traveling gear, and for Frodo he’s wearing his red vest. The set comes with multiple copies of The One Ring, Sting and Sam’s sword. And of course, we have a very cool replica of the Phial of Galadriel to ward off Shelob. Gollum features on ‘angry’ face and comes with a fish.

I gave these figures a 4 out of 5 because I was a bit disappointed in two features. First, Gollum seemed a bit top-heavy and would topple over if you try to pose him in some unique ways with the fish. His articulation is limited to the arms. And second, both Frodo and Sam’s legs are static – with no articulation. I would have also liked to swap out Gollum’s face for this set.

Shelob: 5/5

It goes without saying that Shelob is the focus of this set. From her construction, to the very detailed body, LEGO® has gone above and beyond bringing us this monstrosity. I’m sure others could do it faster, but she took about 30-40 minutes to construct (using the instruction booklet) and I enjoyed every minute. The smallest of details are accounted for, including the face detail with the injured eye. The mechanism that drives the web/string works very well, and besides having to figure out how to tie a nice knot to both ends (I really should have observed more at Boy Scouts), you have quite a lot of string to reconstruct a scene. The added ‘hook’ at the end of the string seems to also work very well for dangling Shelob from a shelf. There is a gear system internally that is activated by a wheel under her belly – you simply turn the wheel and the string retracts. Shelob’s body articulation is a bit realistic freaky – from the full rotating ‘butt,’ to the eight dynamic legs, it just feels like you can make her handle any position. The only possible drawback I found is when trying to pose the base of the legs down more – they are limited in that respect. Again, my inexperience with LEGO® sets could be at play here.

Gollum’s Leaping Platform: 5/5

I’m not sure what this is officially called, but the small wall and ‘launch’ pad for Gollum was easy to construct and simple enough to get the hang of using. It features two green vines and a small springboard for Gollum to leap off of onto Frodo (or Sam, or heck, Shelob!)

Overall: 5/5

For a small set, ‘Shelob Attacks’ packs a punch! From the first ever web function LEGO® spider, to the amazing accessories, this little set is well worth the cost and will provide you with hours of fun – from construction to play. If you personally don’t ‘play’ with LEGO® Sets anymore, I challenge you to give this one a shot. If you like The Lord of the Rings, and you don’t have an overwhelming problem with Arachnopobia, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how fun LEGO® Sets can be for ‘kids’ of all ages. I know this set is going to sit in a place of honor on a shelf in my office. However, if I notice Shelob’s leg out of position one day…I might just freak out a bit…

This set will be available in June at stores near you! Look for a post on TheOneRing.net as soon as online purchase options are available. And check out the gallery below for full pics including construction snap-shots and final pieces. And if you are wondering what else I’m about to review…you may see it in the background of some photos. Coming soon: ‘The Mines of Moria’ and they’ve got a LEGO® Cave Troll!

==========================

Shelob™ Attacks LEGO® Set
Plotting to reclaim The One Ring, Gollum lures Frodo into the lair of the ancient giant spider, Shelob. Will Shelob cast her web and capture Frodo or can Samwise Gamgee rescue him in time? Includes 3 minifigures: Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Gollum. Available June 2012. 227 pieces $19.99 USD

Calisuri is a co-founder and owner of TheOneRing.net. His views are not necessarily those of TheOneRing.net – odd, right? Considering he’s an owner? But no…that’s not always the case. He is a mid-range Tolkien fan with a knowledge of fandom that is just dangerous enough to get himself in trouble.

]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/05/14/56112-product-review-shelob-attacks-lego-set/feed/5TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – April 23, 2012http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/04/23/55334-55334/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/04/23/55334-55334/#commentsMon, 23 Apr 2012 22:12:39 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=55334Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun!

On The Hobbit Movie Discussion Board, DarkJackal wondered about the Arkenstone. Will it be included in the film? That stirred other wonderings about Rings and Swords and such. What do you think? Share your insights here.

There was also discussion on any possible Rivendell Re-design as poster DanielLB compared the original pictures with those found on The Hobbit trailer. What do you think? New stuff?

TORn poster alienorchid brings the area surrounding Edoras to life with pictures from a recent trip to the location where the Realm of the Rohirrim was shot. Come see the stunning shotsand get a feel of the entire land.

We’ll share more topics next week and hope you can join in on the conversation! Don’t forget, TheOneRing.net’s message boards have over 7,600 registered Tolkien fans, just like you. Let your voice be heard!

It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here on TORn, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.

Me: What would be your top 3 desert island DVD’s, excluding LOTR (assuming of course it would be in your top 3), and why?

Julie: Well Kel if I can’t have LOTR …. The original Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I was 9 when the first film came out and it changed my world. My bedroom walls were covered in Star Wars posters – a devoted fan!

Me: I was 10 when the original Star Wars came out and my bedroom walls were just the same. I still have some of my original Star Wars figures too. And now my boys are really into it, the saga continues

Me: What was the path you took, in getting into this line of work?

Julie: I have always been a keen traveller and like most Hobbits I enjoy new adventures. After years in the corporate world I was lucky enough to join my family’s company ‘ Red Carpet Tours’.

Me: Do you feel isolated from the rest of the world, living Down Under? Or do you like being a bit separated from the rest of humanity’s noise? Is living in Middle-earth a bonus?

Julie: Having travelled overseas I can appreciate the natural raw unspoiled beauty New Zealand has to offer and enjoy sharing the wonderful locations Sir P.J choose for the LOTR trilogy and the new Hobbit films. I don’t feel isolated, as we have our own community of countries with Australia and the beautiful Pacific Islands.

Me: What is your biggest or most irrational fear?

Julie: Spiders and most bugs, they should all be harpooned.

Me: What was your favourite cartoon as a child?

Julie: Top Cat

Me: What is it like travelling with LOTR-fans from all over the world? The general impression with most non-LOTR fans is that they are all geeks who walk around the entire day dressed up as Elves and Hobbits continuously quoting Tolkien. But what is it like in reality?

Julie: It is something very special to be part of a Fellowship. The amazing thing is that we start off as many different people from different walks of life and by the end of the journey we are firm friends. These friendships then carry on via Face Book in our Red Carpet Tours page and my Hobbits chat room.

Me: Your tours look really awesome! So, if there were similar tours of other film locations, what film-related tour would you like to take?

Julie: For me LOTR and The Hobbit capture such awesome locations and really showcase the beauty of New Zealand, far more comprehensively than any other film shot here thus far.

Me: All of the following questions were submitted by just one of our Message Board members, Bombadil, and I felt he deserved a section all to himself

Bombadil: Must see sites, like the First Location where the Hobbits encounter the Nazgul. Isn’t that in a City Park nearby?

Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit filming locations in New Zealand with Red Carpet Tours.

If you’d like to meet Julie in person or any of the rest of the wonderful team at Red Carpet Tours their new 14 Day LOTR/Hobbit Tours run every month. If you’re planning on being in New Zealand for The Hobbit Premiere why not join the 14 Day Hobbit Premiere Tour for an amazing Hobbity experience

]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/04/17/55132-getting-to-know-julie-james-of-red-carpet-tours/feed/8Official ‘You Shall Not Pass’ T-Shirt at WBShop.comhttp://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/06/53410-official-you-shall-not-pass-t-shirt-at-wbshop-com/
http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/06/53410-official-you-shall-not-pass-t-shirt-at-wbshop-com/#commentsMon, 06 Feb 2012 21:25:47 +0000http://www.theonering.net/torwp/?p=53410The official Lord of the Rings online store, at WBShop.com, has just posted a brand new Gandalf themed shirt! The exclusive black t-shirt features the infamous scene from The Fellowship of the Ring, and the phrase “You shall not pass!” as Gandalf blocks the path of Balrog. The shirt is available in all sizes and ships internationally. You can also snag a version of the shirt with just the artwork. Check them both out ! [You Shall Not Pass T-Shirt] [Gandalf Artwork Shirt]
]]>http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/02/06/53410-official-you-shall-not-pass-t-shirt-at-wbshop-com/feed/2